Happy Friday!

Hello & happy Friday my darlings!

I have major cabin-fever and am craving sunshine, open windows with blowing curtains, farmer's market veggies, color & fresh air. Even though we haven't had much snow this winter, and the temps haven't been as bad as I can recall some winters being, I'm so ready for spring. Cold weather makes me want to indulge in comfort food, sweets & PJ pants! And.... being in a new city and wanting to constantly try new foods is taking a toll on my physique! I can't wait to be outside on long walks & to find a place to do yoga regularly and to have a routine again so I can have a sense of balance in my life.

I'm working on a project that I'm excited to tell you about in the next week or so and have been collaborating with some pretty cool people. It's all about beauty & loving yourself! Sit tight for details.

Until next time, Courtney :)

Week in Review

Disclosure: These are all personal, quick-snap photos from my cell phone! It's been a gloomy week in Chicago and I'm so ready for spring & sunshine. I spent the weekend photographing some birthday parties & Valentine mini sessions. The theme for one of the birthday parties was Frozen! The ironic thing is that it was 50 degrees that day - hah!

I spent the week searching for apartments and walking for endless miles. Parking is such a nightmare around here that I just walk from place to place. Get my exercise in AND save on gas & sanity! This is one of the cutest apartments I saw and I'm in LOVE with all of the sun rooms in Chicago. I hope my future apartment has one...

When I wasn't searching north of the city, high & low for a home, I was snuggling on the couch or hanging out with Miss Nora. We went on adventure walks, made fresh-squeezed juice & read lots of books!

I found this on a bus stop yesterday and it stopped me & pulled me back to the present. I was all up in my head, worrying about apartment searching, that I almost missed this. I love the quote & the sun flare. (The sun did shine for at least one day!) Plus, Big Magic is on my list of books to read next. I just love Elizabeth Gilbert & her message about living a creative life, authentically, even in the face of fear.

I was in Lincoln Square, waiting to look at an apartment nearby, when I found this adorable little book/coffee shop. I found this body butter and I'm hooked. Thinking of starting a Product of the Week segment with the unique goods I find here in the city. This is by Bicycle Soap Co and the Lavender & Grapefruit scent is springy, refreshing & invigorating. I'm in love! I highly recommend The Book Cellar in Lincoln Square.

Great coffee & a blue sunset topped the week off as I headed down to the city for a Happy Hour Meetup Group. It's so much fun meeting new people and going to places I've never been. Plus, riding the train is an adventure in itself. I can't wait until my nieces visit so we can ride the train & go exploring.

I've got a full weekend of photo shoots ahead but tonight I'm meeting my mom, sister & niece in Milwaukee for a Disney on Ice night! I can't wait to see Avianna's face and give her big hugs. On Sunday, I'm heading back to Wisconsin for a photo shoot and to regroup for a few days. I'm missing my pooch like crazy - it's been two weeks since we've snuggled! Actually, I miss everyone like crazy & the transition is taking a lot of getting used to. Hopefully once this apartment stuff is taken care of, and I'm settled in, life will have some balance and a sense of normalcy again.

Much love to everyone!

Welcome - I'm so glad you're here!

Thanks so much for stopping by Courtney Michelle Photography! I'm incredibly excited to start this new chapter of my life, in Chicago. Follow along while I explore this new city of mine, drink lots of coffee, discover delicious eats, embark upon a new business adventure and update client galleries.

New year = new adventure for Courtney Michelle Photography. My portrait business has been based out of Madison, WI for the past 6 years but I've decided to give it a whirl in Chicago. After being in WI my entire life, I was feeling kind of lost and personally stuck, and needed a change to regroup and find out where I wanted to be. After a wonderful summer filled with lots of girl time, family time, Taylor Swift concerting, reading, photo shoots and traveling to many amazing cities, I landed in Chicago after being hired by TK Photography as a newborn specialist photographer. I get to photograph newborns, little kids, and families here and I'm having a blast meeting so many new people. TK has welcomed me with open arms and they're my "Chicago family." I've loved Chicago since I was younger and fell instantly in love with the vibrancy, the vastness, the art, the architecture, the busy-ness, the food, (Chicago deep dish pizza? yes, please!) the cute coffee shops and all there is to do here.

What does this mean for CMP? Well, I'm still me but now I'm in two places! I still get back to WI frequently for lots of family time, and my dog is still there! My sister just had her third baby and I need snuggles from my adorable nieces. And my youngest sister is expecting her first baby in June so I plan to be around for MORE baby snuggles! So, I'm still doing photo shoots in WI, don't you worry! As for Chicago shooting, I'm doing newborns & children for the studio so my primary CMP focus is heading more toward the direction of high school seniors, engagements, pets, boudoir and even FOOD photography!

You can even look for an Etsy shop from me in the near future. I'm working on opening up a print shop to sell my travel, nature & food photos, as well as a line of photographic greeting cards. 2016 is shaping up to be my favorite year yet!

Thank you to all of my WI clients for getting me where I am today, and to my future clients: I can't wait to meet you!

I must give a shout-out to my dear friend Jamie Strehlow, of Jamie Strehlow Photography, for the great photo above.